Venus is just outside the Libra diamond on the east side when the sun sets on October 1st. For northern hemisphere observers, the planet sets not long after sunset despite being at its greatest elongation later this month. The planet moves eastward into Scorpius, coming close to Dschubba on the 9th. A thin young moon […]

This month, Mars is retreating from the evening sky into the sun’s light. Northern hemisphere sky watchers shouldn’t expect to see it. Southern hemisphere observers probably won’t see it either, but they have a slightly better chance. Mercury is moving into the evening sky for the first half of the month. A waxing crescent moon […]

Venus and Mars are setting along with Leo not long after the sun these evenings. At the month’s start, the red planet is still near Regulus after their recent close call. Venus is leaving Leo. On, to Virgo. A thin crescent moon passes Mars on the 9th and Venus on the 10th. Watch Venus pass […]

Mars and Venus straddle Cancer on the evening of June 30 as July is about to begin. Both are moving eastward. Venus moves through the Beehive Cluster or M44 the evening of July 3rd. The chase is on. Venus appears to be swooping in for a quick meetup with Mars. As the planets come close, […]

As June begins, Mercury is retreating into the sunset. If you can find it, it’ll probably be only on the first few evenings of the month. Venus is above it, approaching the feet of Gemini. The constellation itself isn’t particularly easy to see. The bright stars Castor and Pollux stand out, but the rest don’t […]

Mercury and Venus are evening objects, Mars visits the twins, Saturn and Jupiter shine in the morning, and there’s a total lunar eclipse. The month starts with Mercury and Venus in the evening sky. They reach higher into it each evening. The moon is in the neighborhood next to Venus on the 12th and Mercury […]

Venus is an evening object again. But it remains a horizon hugger. Binoculars may help find it, but any obstruction on the horizon will spoil the view. It has a close pairing with Mercury on the 25th. They set just 35 minutes after sunset on that date from 18° north where they may be best […]

Cetus, Pisces, and Pegasus are setting as night sets in. Gemini, Taurus, and Orion are high at sunset. Leo is an all night constellation. Mars is in Taurus when March begins. It passes close to the Pleiades in the first week. Around the 15th through 19th, the red planet passes through a set of stars […]

Mercury starts the month as an evening object. If you can see it after sunset in February, that’s impressive. True to its reputation, the planet is heading sunward quickly. From around 13° north latitude, the planet sets an hour after sunset on the 1st.. That’s where the best viewing is. But even there, it’s impossible […]

Planet watching is likely to be frustrating this month. And last month’s super close conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn is hard to beat. But maybe we can come close. The two planets remain close together next to Capricornus at the beginning of January. As Jupiter leaves Saturn behind, both are heading into the sunset. Mercury […]